NOTE TO V. N. PODBELSKY IN MOSCOW BY DIRECT LINE, FEBRUARY 22, 1918[1]

Published:First published inIzvestiaof the Soviets of Workers’, Soldiers’ and Peasants’ Deputies of Moscow City and Moscow Region No. 31. February 23(10), 1918.

      Printed from the text of the telegraph tape.Source:Lenin
	  Collected Works,

      Progress Publishers,1975,

      Moscow,Volume 44,

      page67b.Translated:Clemens DuttTranscription\Markup:R. CymbalaPublic Domain:Lenin Internet Archive.You may freely copy, distribute,
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Ihave no new verified information apart from the report
that the Germans, generally speaking, are steadily
advancing because they do not encounter resistance. I consider
the situation extremely grave and the slightest delay on
our part is impermissible. As regards the report about
Austria-Hungary not taking part in the war, I personally,
unlike Trotsky, do not consider it verified; they say the
radio has been intercepted and there were telegrams about
this from Stockholm, but 1 have not seen such documents,

[1]Thisnote is a reply to the following request from V. N.
Podbelsky, Commissar for Posts and Telegraphs of Moscow and
Moscow Region: “We have just been informed by telephone on behalf
of Trotsky that Austria-Hungary is said to have declared its
refusal to advance against Russia. Please contact Trotsky or one
of the other People’s Commissars immediately by telephone,
check this information and let us know. The Soviet of Workers’
Deputies is at present in session here and awaits verification of
this report. At the same time obtain the latest news in general,
but only authentic news, and inform us immediately. Please do
this, comrade, it is very important for us.”